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Most people who come to Sweden only really know about Stockholm, or maybe even the second largest city of Göteborg (Gothenburg), but Uppsala usually doesn’t come to mind (Sweden’s fourth largest city). Uppsala is a short 40 minute train ride from Stockholm Central which makes it ideal for a day/weekend trip and is easily walkable. It’s known as a university town as Uppsala University is the oldest in the country (established in 1477). 

You can find a Google map of the places I will discuss at the end of this post. Also, if you happen to have more time in Sweden, don’t just stop at Uppsala, check out other Sweden cities such as:

• Stockholm (Blog Post Title: Why Stockholm is the best Scandinavian capital)

  • Stockholm Tunnelbana (Blog Post Title: The World’s Longest Art Gallery - Riding on the Stockholm Tunnelbana)

• Gothenburg (Göteborg) (Blog Post Title: A Tour of Gothenburg: Sweden's 2nd Largest City)

• Helsingborg (Blog Post: Just a few reasons to see Helsingborg in the South of Sweden)

• Malmö (Blog Post: Take a weekend break in Malmö, Sweden)

• Lund (Blog Post: A Day tour of the university town of Lund)

• Kalmar (Blog Post: Kalmar: The town you should know more about in Sweden)

• Öland (Blog Post: A Day Tour of the Swedish island of Öland)

• Marstrand (Blog Post: A day trip to the Swedish island of Marstrand)

• Swedish Castles (Blog Post: A Tour of Sweden’s Coolest Castles)

At Uppsala central station, you are immediately greeted by a large restaurant with loads of outdoor seating appropriately called Stationen. This is excellent for meeting people who have just arrived and want to relax and perhaps people watch while sipping beverages or coffee/tea. If it’s rather cold out, venture inside into the backroom which has seating right next to the train tracks.

Of course, if you want to sample the kardamummabullar (cardamom rolls) that sweden is known for, be sure to make your way to Güntherska along the Fyrisån river. Here you can grab a roll, ice cream, sandwiches, other pastries, etc and enjoy them along the canal outside in the middle of summer. Three other great cafe alternatives are Leijon Cafe, Kafferummet Storken, and Cafe Cardamom, all located around the city center.

Dominating the skyline is both the Uppsala Cathedral (Uppsala Domkryka), and Uppsala Castle (Uppsala Slott) and both are unmistakable. The cathedral is the tallest church in the Nordic countries and designed in a French Gothic style. The outside facade is (IMO) the most impressive part of the church.

Uppsala castle is bright pink, and isn’t as menacing or ‘tough’ as one would expect a castle to be, but it’s position at the top of the city makes it an ideal view point for most of Uppsala. On some days during the summer, you can take a roof top walk on the castle, but be sure to book in advance.

From here, you can peer out and see Uppsala central station and all the shops and restaurants that line the canal and from the other side, you can get an excellent view of Linnaeum, named after Carl Linnaeus, a famous alumnus of the university. The Botanical Gardens at Linneanum have plants from all over the world and the garden is open year round. Also located here is the Linneanum Orangery and the Tropical Greenhouse.

If you like some of my photos that you have come across, just know that I have many prints showcasing a variety of landscapes in Sweden, available for purchase below! (Sold as Posters, Canvas, or in Metal-Frames).

You will find more bikes here per person than in Stockholm, given how many students are in this city and how close things are to one another. Rent one and head up to Gamla Uppsala to see the Royal Mounds of Uppsala, which, according to folklore, rest the Nordic gods, Thor, Oden and Freyr. This is ideal for a picnic and some peace and quiet away from the city center. The Gamla Uppsala Museum is also around here and offers historical investigations of the area as well.

While cycling through the city, you will surely notice the absolute abundance of green spaces all around. Perhaps the best view of Uppsala is right by Gotlandsparken; it is on the river and you can see the church unimpeded. The water reflection makes it a great place for photographers. Other great parks in the area is Stadsträdgården (which lies right along the canal) and the Linnaeus Garden, the first botanical garden in Sweden and constructed in the French Style (restored following Linnaeus's design from 1745).

The abundance of green space in this city, with all modern conveniences, is very noticeable while walking around. For those who desire more nature than in the confines of a small park, you can hike in the Hågadalen-Nåstens Naturreservat, better known as just Håga. This nature reserve is replete with walking and biking trails of varying lengths and scenery (Håga brochure and map here). There are many ways to get to Håga (more specifically to Håga Bro, one of the entrances to the nature reserve). You can take:

• Bus - Take bus #30 to Uppsala Gnejsplan, then a 6 min. walk

• Bike - About 4.2 km (mostly flat) from Uppsala central station.

There are other entrances into Håga which are highlighted in the brochure link.

If you’re one of the very few hobbyists who enjoy flying a drone (as I have recently become), there is no better place to fly it than around Uppsala Castle and Linneanum. The cultivated botanical garden is the perfect subject for aerial photography. Furthermore, any shot around the Uppsala Cathedral is bound to be awesome. Lastly, flying along the canal through the city center during golden hour is especially spectacular. Take note however, there is a military installation just a few kilometers north of this area which restricts any drone flying.

All this drone flying has given me enough footage to compile my first 4K drone video. Feel free to check it out in its entirety. Any advice or suggestions you may have for myself are more than welcome.

If you are in Uppsala in the winter time and like to ice skate, there is a massive ice rink at Studenternas IP, which is free for people to use (unfortunately there are no places to rent skates). You'll oftentimes see people playing ice hockey or bandy, a very popular Swedish sport. If you fancy seeing what Bandy is like, every year Uppsala hosts the Sweden bandy finals at Studenternas (more info here).

For great bars to check out, head to:

• Bryggeriet Ångkvarn

• Taps Beer Bar

• DomCraft (for good beers)

• Vinbaren (for great wines)

• Miss Voon (for great cocktails and view of Uppsala)

Great shopping can be found all around Stora Torget, the city's main square (be forewarned that bicycles are not allowed on this street, which is just for pedestrian traffic).

PROTIP: If you find yourself here on April 30th for Valborg, expect to see the city flooded with students and locals alike, some who will be traversing the river in elaborate rafts.

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